As High Holidays Approach, PJ Library's Get Together Grants Help Local Families Build Jewish Community — One Small Gathering at a Time
Northern New Jersey — The High Holidays are a natural moment to reflect on the community we choose to build around ourselves and our families. For young Jewish parents navigating the early years of raising children, PJ Library's Get Together program offers a simple, low-pressure way to turn that reflection into action: host a small gathering, meet other local Jewish families, and grow a community together.
Get Together Grants are PJ Library's signature microgrant program, offering $100 to families who want to host a small gathering for their peers. The concept is intentionally flexible — a Get Together can be a Shabbat pizza dinner in the backyard, a playground playdate with apples and honey to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, pumpkin painting to celebrate the harvest holiday of Sukkot, or nearly anything else a host can imagine. What matters isn't the format; it's the chance to connect with other Jewish families and do something Jewish.
For families with young children, the early years of parenthood can be both joyful and isolating. Get Together Grants lower the barrier to entry for building community by removing the pressure of formal programming and putting the gathering in the hands of the people who know their peers best: other parents. Any active PJ Library subscriber family looking to host between two and ten other Jewish families is encouraged to apply for a grant.
"Get Together works because it meets families exactly where they are," said Erica Danziger, Director of Programs and Community Outreach at the JCC of Northern NJ and a PJ Library and Get Together ambassador. "You don't need a big event space or a packed agenda — you just need a few families willing to show up. Over and over, we've seen these small, informal gatherings turn into real friendships and a real sense of belonging. That's the whole point: finding your people, at your own pace, in a way that feels natural."
Over the past 12 months, more than 30 Get Togethers have taken place through J on the Go, the JCC of Northern NJ's programming branch dedicated to families raising Jewish children from the prenatal stage through preschool.
One family in Glen Rock said, "On Lag B'Omer, my 5-year-old asked if we could roast marshmallows after school. The weather was perfect, so we invited a few other families — everyone said yes on the spot. We built a backyard 'campfire,' roasted marshmallows, sang Lag B'Omer songs, and had some pizza. The Get Together Grant covered the pizza and gave us just the nudge we needed to get together with friends and do something Jewish."
PJ Library and the JCC of Northern NJ invite families to participate in Get Together Grants and create a chance to meet people they may already know from the neighborhood or school, or to build entirely new relationships with families walking a similar path.
Families interested in hosting a Get Together Grant can apply at pjlibrary.org/gettogether. Don’t know anyone in your neighborhood? J on the Go can help make introductions to other Jewish families with kids’ similar ages as your own. Contact info@jccnnj.org to connect.
About PJ Library
PJ Library is a program that sends free, high-quality Jewish children's books and music to families raising Jewish children, helping to connect them to Jewish traditions, values, and community. Beyond books, PJ Library supports local engagement opportunities — like the Get Together microgrant program — that help families build meaningful connections with other Jewish families in their own communities.
About J on the Go / JCC of Northern NJ
J on the Go is the JCC of Northern NJ's programming branch designed for families raising Jewish children from the prenatal stage through preschool. Through community events, playgroups, and family programming, J on the Go helps young families find connection, support, and a sense of belonging within the broader Jewish community of Northern New Jersey.
PHOTO CAPTION: PJ Library families enjoyed a ‘Get Together’ around the campfire for Lag B’Omer last May. Photo credit: Erica Danziger/JCC of Northern NJ
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